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Welcome to Jukebox Jury, our new music debate show where experts face off and a jury of fans decides the winner.

THE CASE: Technology has made it considerably easier for musicians to go the D.I.Y. route, yet getting signed to a big label is still very important to certain kinds of artists, especially in the pop and hip-hop worlds. For new acts, the radio and marketing support provided by major labels can make the difference between success and obscurity. For established artists, however, the major label machine is often viewed as an archaic system. From Prince and Pearl Jam to Radiohead and Wilco, many veteran acts have founded their own independent labels that aren’t distributed via major labels. So are labels necessary for success in the today’s music industry? If not, could brands sponsorships fill the void for emerging artists?